Loader



22, 1967 G. D. DEL. VECCHIO ET AL 3,337,072

LOADER Filed Ocb. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS GEORGE D. DEL VECCHIO JAMES K. DENNIS JOHN W. WAGNER ATTORNEYS G. D. DEL. VECCHIO ET AL 3,337,072

LOADER Filed Oct. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GEORGE D. DEL VECCHIO JAMES K. DENNIS BY JOHN W. WAGNER A T TOR/VE VS G. D. DEL VECCHIO ET AL 3,337,072

Aug. 22, 1967 I LOADER 5 sheets sheet 5 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVE NTORS CCHIOI NN N VNG R EA 0 & w

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957 G. D. DEL VECCHIO ET AL 3,337,072

LOADER Filed Oct. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheec 4 FIG. 6

INVENTORS 7 GEORGE D. DEL VECCHIO JAMES K. DENNIS JOHN W. WAGNER A 7' TO/PNE VS g- 22, 1957 G. D. DEL VECCHIO ET AL 3,337,072

LOADER Filed 0ct. 18, 1965 5 SheecsSheet INVENTORS GEORGE D. DEL VECCHIO JAME'S K. DENNIS JOHN W. WAGNER /n kiQ/M United States Patent O 3,337,072 LOADER George D. Del Vecchio, North Rose, James K. Dennis, Fairport, and John W. Wagner, Penfield, N.Y., assignors to Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Set. No. 497,314 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-304) This invention relates to drive mechanisms and particularly to limited movement, manually operated drive mechanisrns.

More specifically, this invention relates to a limited movement, manually operated drive mechanism for locking a xerographic toner container in a fixed position, open- -ing and closing the container to empty the contents thereof, and releasing the container from the mechanism.

In the process of xerography, for example, as dsclosed in Carlson Patent 2,297,691, a xerographic plate comprsing a layer of photoconductive material on a conductive hacking is given a uniform electric charge over its surface and then exposed to the subject matter to be reproduced, usually by conventional projection techniques. This exposure discharges the plate in accordance with the light intensity reaching it thereby creating an electrostatic latent image 011 or in the plate.

Developinent of the image is efrected by developers Which comprise, in general, a mixture of a suitable pigmented or dyed resin based powder, hereinafter referred to as toner, and a granular carrier material Which funetions to carry and to generate triboelectric charges on the toner. More specifically, the function of the carrier material is to provide mechanical control of the toner, or to carry the toner to an image surface and, simultaneously, to provide almost complete homogenity of charge polarity. In the development of the image, the toner is brought into surface contact with the photoconductive coating and is held thereon electrostatically in a pattern corresponding to the electrostatic Iatent image. Thereafter, the developed xerographic image is usually transferred to a support material to Which it may be fixed by any suitable means.

In the mixture of toner particles in carrier material, the toner particles, which are many times smaller than the carrier particles, adhere to and coat the surface of the carrier particles due to the electrostatic attraction between them. During development, as the toner coated carrier particles roll or tumble over the xerographic plate carrying an electrostatic image of opposite polarity to the charge on the toner, toner particles are pulled away from the carrier by the latent electrostatic image and deposited on the plate to form a developed toner image. As toner powder images are forrned, additional toner must be supplied to the develo-per mixture to replenish the toner deposited on the xerographic plate. The toner material may be of the type disclosed in Carlton Patent No. 2,940,934, wherein the toner particles comprise a finely divided pigmented resin having a particle size less than 20 microns and preferably an average particle size between about and about 10 microns and consisting of a finely divided uniform mixture of pigment in a nontacky, 10W melting resin. Desirably, the pigment Will be a black pigment such as carb on black or other minutely divided carbonaceous pigment.

The disadvantage of han-dling toner containers is the tendency of the toner powder, due to its minute size, to become airborne When the container is opened by the machine operator. This airborne toner powder contaminates the surrounding area with carbon black particles, blackening the operators hands and clothing, creating an Undesirable working condition. Coritainers, if not of the 21bove-described nature, have been of the type wherein the package is placed into the machine by the operator and kept therein to be used as a dispensing unit. After the toner supply s exhausted, the operator removes the empty container from the machine and replaces it with a full one. The minute toner particles which cover the empty container due to the dispensing operation and the residual portion remaining inside the opened container create the same problem as described -above but of a more aggravated nature.

The new invention of this application provides a loader mechanism to be used in cooperation with a container such as that disclosed and clairned in copending application Sei. No. 497,104, filed on Oct. 18, 1965, in the name of George D. Del.Vecchio wherein the container is placed in the Ioader mechanism, the seal is broken and the toner emptied into a dispenser, and the container reclosed providing a white gloves hands-free method of loading the toner into the developer housing. The container, being destroyed, is then removed from the loading mechanism and discarded.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to control the dispensing of xerographic toner from a container.

Another object of this invention is to improve apparatus for opening sealed receptacles.

A further object of this invention is to improve apparatus for opening containers to prevent contamination by the material therein contained.

Still another object of this invention is to improve apparatus for opening and closing xerographic toner containers whereby the container is opened and closed without being touched by the operator.

Various other objects and advantages will appear -from the following detailed description of one embodirnent of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematioally an automatic xerographic reproducing machine utilizing an embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container suitable for use in the invention showing drive means to cooperate with the drive means of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container suitable for use in the invention with parts broken away to better illustrate construction thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention with a suitable container cooperating therewith;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the invention with parts broken away to better illustrate the nature thereof; t

FIG. 6 is a section view taken along section 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the subject invention with the cover plate closed to better illustrate the folding opener mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the opener mechanism of the subject invention in position to receive a container.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 an embodiment of the subject invention in a suitable environment such as an automatc xerographic reproducing machine, although it should be noted that the invention is not intended to be so limited.

As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the automatic xerographic reproducing machine includes an xerographic plate including a photoconductve layer or lig'ht receiving surface on a conductive hacking journaled in a frame to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow to causethe plate surface sequentially to pass a plurality of xerographic processing stations.

A11 exposure station 2 at which a light or radiation pattern of copy to be reproduced is projected onto the plate surface to dissipate the eharge in exposed areas thereof and thereby form a latent electrostatic image of the copy to be reproduced;

A developing station 3 at which the xer-ographic developing material including toner particles having an electrostatic charge opposite to that of the electrostatic latent image are cascaded over the plate -surfaee, whereby the toner particles adhere to the electrostatic latent image to forma a xerographic powder image in the configuration of the copy being reproduced;

A transfer station 4 at which the xerographic powder image is electrostatically transferred from the plate surface to a transfer materia] or a support surface; and

A drurn cleaning and discharge station 5 at which the plate surface is brushed to remove residual toner particles remaining thereon after image transfer, and at which the plate surface is exposed to a relatively bright light source to etfect substantially complete discharge of any residual electrostatic charge remaining thereon.

It is felt that the preceeding description of the xerographic process is suflicient for a better understanding of this invention. Referring now to the subject matter of the inventon, as shown in FIG. 1, the toner loader 100 cooperates with the toner container to discharge the contents of the container into a toner metering mechanism 6 whereby the toner is metered into the developer apparatus 3 as the supply of toner in the developer mixture 7 becomes depleted through developrnent of the latent electrostatic image on or in the rotatable xerographic plate 8.

The toner container 10, shown in FIG. 2, includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve or receptacle 11 having an opening in its peripheral surface 12 through which the toner material is discharged. A substantially cylindrical core or liner 20 having a closure portion 21 is rotatably mounted in the receptacle 11 forming a closure of the sleeve opening 12 to retain the contents therein. The liner 20 has a closed end portion 22 cooperating with an end member 13 secured to receptacle 11 and having a circular opening therein in which a fibrous washer 14 is positioned, forming a toner-tight seal. The opposite end portion 24 of the liner 20, having an opening therein for filling the receptacle with toner, is formed with a groove 25 in which the boss 16 of end member 15, secured to the receptacle 11 forming a closure thereof, coacts to lirnit the relative rotation of the liner 20 within the receptacle 11. The liner 20 is rotated within the receptacle 11, moving the closure portion 21 into or out of interference with the opening 12 of the receptacle, by operation of a lever-actuated drive hub 30 of toner loader 100 cooperating with a drive portion 23 of liner 20 wherein the drive portion 23 is inserted in a suitable slot 31 of drive hub 30 and rotated thereby.

The cover plate 37 of toner loader 100 is raised, and the toner container 10 is positioned on the loader over the opening 41 in base plate 40 on gaskets 42 with a lock portion 17 of the container end member engaged in a suitable slot 44 of the gasket plate 43 to prevent rotation of the entire container 10 when the drive hub 30 rotates. A guide portion 18 is provided on the container end member 15 to prevent the container from being positioned on the loader mechanism without the container opening 12 in cooperation with the opening 41 in base plate 40.

The base plate 40 of the toner loader 100, which is secured to the top of the developer housing 3 forming a tonertight seal therewith by means of gaskets 47 and flange 48 of the toner meter 6, is formed with suitable hinge -portions 45 and 46 for mounting on the cover plate 37 and folding opener mechanism 60, respectively, and a recessed housing portion 49 for containing the folding opener mechanism hereinafter described in detail.

The opener mechanism 60, the operation of which opens and closes the toner container 10 by rotating a liner relative to the receptacle 11, is secured to the hinge portion 38 of the cover 37 by link bar 61 pinned to the hinge portion at one end and secured at its opposite end to a bearing 62 mounted on pivot support whereby the link bar 61 may be rotated relative to the pivot support 80. Rightand left-hand angle arms 64 and 65, respectively, are mounted on bearing 62 for rotation relative to pivot support 80 to raise or lower support arm 66. The angle arms 64 and 65, at their opposite ends, support a bifurcated support arm 66 in which the drive hub 30 is rotatably mounted on bearing surfaces of support arm 66 and rotated by operation of handle 94, pinned at to a cylindrical portion 32 of drive hub 30 and normally biased in a counterclockwise direction to a horizontal stop position, as seen in FIG. 5, by a torsion spring 33 encircling the cylindrical portion 32 of drive hub 30 and secured at its ends in slot portions of the support arm 66. The support arm 66 is forrned with a stop portion 69 which engages handle 94 to limit its rotation and the rotation of the c-oacting drive hub 30. A cam portion 34 on the periphel'y of drive hub 30 cooperates with a follower latch 54 to look the toner container 10 onto the toner loader mechanism upon the rotation of the drive hub 30 through operation of the handle 94. This follower latch 54 is rotatably mounted on a pin 55 secured in a bifurcated portion 70 of support arm 66 and biased out of interference with a toner container being placed on or removed from the toner loader mechanism by a spring 56 secured at one end to the follower latch 54 and at its opposite end to a tab portion 57 of support arm 66. Rotation of handle 94 carns follower latch 54 into engagernent with the flange of end member 13 of toner container 10, as shown in FIG, 2, to clamp the container onto the gasket 42 preventing the removal of the c'ontainer from the loader when the closure portion 21 is out of interference, or in the open dispensing position with the opening 12 of the receptacle 11. After dispensing the contents of the container into the toner meter 6, handle 94 is rotated back to its original position, closing the opening 12 in receptacle 11, and the follower latch 54 moves out of engagement with the end member 13 to permit removal of the emptied container.

T0 enable the opener mechanism 60 to be folded into the recessed housing portion 49 of the loader base plate 40 when the cover plate 37 is lowered, the support arm 66 is pivotable at its end opposite the drive hub 30 in bearing portions 73 of bracket 74, secured to base plate 40, and rightand left-hand lock bars 75 and 76, respectively, which are secured to base plate 40 by shoulder pins 91 extending through a boss portion of the base plate and through a suitable opening 92 in each lock bar. Both rightand left-hand lock bars 75 and 76, respectively, are formed with lock portions 77 and 78, corresponding to rightand left-hand lock bars, for rigidly securing the opening mechanism in operating position when the cover is opened by extending portions 81 and 82 of pivot support 88 engaging the respective lock portions 77 and 73 of the lock bars.

The operation of the above-disclosed mechanism will now be briefly described to more clearly illustrate the subject invention.

As the cover plate 37 is opened, the link bar 61, secured to the cover plate, is moved up out of the housing portion 49 of base plate 40 and to the right, as seen in FIG. 5. A guide 51 secured to the base plate controls the movernent of the linkage from the housing portion to the lock portions 77 and 78 of lock bars 75 and 76. The link bars movernent raises the angle arrns 64 and 65 Iotating them in a counterclockwise direction and securing the extensions 81 and 82 of pivot support 80 in the lock portions 77 and 78, respectively. Due to the conneetion of the angle arms to the support arm 66, the opener mechanism is locked in operating position.

A toner container 10 is placed onto the loading mechanism with the drive portion 23 of toner liner 20 engaged in the slot 31 of the drive hub 30 and the lock portion 17 of the container end member 15 engaged in the slot 44 of the toner leader gasket plate 43. As the handle 94 is r-otated -breaking the seal and opening the toner container, the cam portion 34 on drive hub 30 cams the follower latch 54 into engagement With the end member 13 of the container preventing the removal of the toner container 10. After the contents of the toner container are emptied into the toner meter, the handle 94 is rotated back to its original position closing the container and releasing the follower latch 54 to permit removal of the container from the leader.

The cover plate 37 is then lowered, moving the link bar 61 to the left and downward, releasing the extensions 81 and 82 of pivot bar 80 from engagement With the lock portions 77 and 78 of lock bars 75 and 76, respectively. The angle arms 64 and 65 are moved downward and rotated clockwise lowering the support arm 66, drive hub 30, and handle 9 4 into the housing portion 49 of the base plate 40. A latch 85 fastened to the developer housing -3 secures the cover plate 37 by engaging a suitable latch portion 36 formed thereon.

While the invention has been described With reference to the structure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, but is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come Within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A leader for locking a container in a fixed position, opening and closing the container, and releasing the container from the apparatus, including a support plate having an opening therein to receive a container having a rotatable closure portion,

a rotatable drive member positioned adjacent said opening to engage the rotatable closure portion of said container for the dispensing of the contents contained therein,

means to rotate said drive member, and

a clamp member positioned adjacent said drive member to be actuated and released by the rotation thereof to clamp a container to said support plate during the dispensing of the contents contained therein.

2. A loader for use in cooperation With a container mechanism for locking the container in a fixed position, opening and closing the container, and releasing the container from the apparatus, including a support plate having an opening therein to receive a container having a rotatable closure portion,

said plate having a housing portion,

a rotatable drive member positioned adjacent said opening to engage the rotatable closure portion of said container for the dispensing of the contents contained therein,

said drive member having a cam portion thereon,

means to rotate said drive member,

a clamp member positioned adjacent said drive member to be actuated and released by said cam portion -of said drive member to secure a container of said support plate during the dispensing of the contents contained therein, and

means to move said drive member and clamp member into and out of said housing portion of said support plate.

3. A loading mechanism for use in cooperation With the developer mechanism of an automatic xerographic reproducing machine to lock a container in a fixed position, opening and closing it to dispense the contents thereof, and thereafter releasing thecontainer from the apparatus, including a base plate having an opening therein to receive a container having a rotatable closure portion,

said plate having a housing portion,

lock means secured to said plate,

an opener mechanism journaled in said lock means for rotation relative thereto to engage the rotatable closure portion of said container for the dispensing of the contents contained therein,

said opener mechanism adapted to engage a portion of said lock means,

means to move said opener mechanism from the housing portion of said base plate into engagement With said lock means and to return said opener mechanism to said housing portion,

said opener mechanism having a rotatable drive member positioned adjacent said opening to engage the rotatable closure portion of said container for the dispensing of the contents contained therein, and

clamp means positioned adjacent said opening actuated by said drive member to secure said container to said base plate during the dispensing of the contents contained therein.

4. A loading mechanism for use in cooperation With the developer mechanism of an automatic xerographic reproducing machine to lock a container in a fixed position, opening and closing it to dispense the contents thereof, and thereafter releasing the container from the apparatus, including a base plate having an opening therein to receive a container having a rotatable closure portion,

said plate having a housing portion,

lock bars secured to said plate and having lock portions at one end,

an opener mechanism journaled in said lock bars for rotation relative thereto for opening and closing a container to dispense the contents thereof,

said opener mechanism adapted to engage the lock portion of said lock bars,

means to move said opener mechanism into operative relationship With said container from the housing portion of said base plate into engagement With said lock bars and to return said opener mechanism into inoperative position Within said housing portion,

said opener mechanism having a rotatable drive member positioned adjacent said opening to engage the rotatable closure portion of said container for the dispensing of the contents contained therein, and

clamp means positioned adjacent said opening actuated by said drive member to secure said container to said base plate during the dispensing of the contents contained therein.

5. A loader for use in cooperation With the developer mechanism of an automatic xerographic reproducing machine to lock a container in a fixed position, open and close the container to dispense the contents thereof, and thereafter release it from the apparatus, including a base =plate having an opening therein to receive a.

container having a rotatable closure portion,

said plate having a housing portion,

a cover plate attached te said base plate,

lock bars secured to said base plate and having lock portions at one end,

a support arm journaled in said lock bars for rotation relative thereto,

angle arms journaled on said support arms for rotation relative thereto,

a pivot support journaled in said angle arms and having extended portions for engagement With the lock portions of the lock bars,

a link bar secured at one end to said pivot support for moving said extended portions into and out of engagement With the lock portions of said lock bars,

said link bar being connected at the opposite end to said cover plate te effect movement of said link bar upon movernent of said cover plate,

a drive member rotatably journaled in said support arm and positioned adjacent the opening in said base plate for opening and closing said container to dispense the contents thereof adapted to be moved 7 from said housing portion into operative reiationship With said container and to be returned into inoperative position within said housing portion upon the movement of said cover plate,

means to rotate said drive member,

said drive member having a carn portion on its periphery, and

a follower iatch carried by said support arm to be actuated by the cam portion of said drive member to secure said container to said base plate during the dispensing of the contents contained therein.

6. Apparatus for use in filling the toner dispenser of an automatic xerographic reproducing machine comprising the combination of a base plate having an opening therein,

a rotatabie drive member adjacent said opening,

a container positioned on said base pia-te in coacting relation With said drive member,

said container having a rotatabie ciosure portion to contain the contents therein,

means to rotate said drive member to empty the contents of said container, and

ciarnp means to secure said container to said base plate.

7. Loading apparatus comprising the combination of a base plate having an opening therein,

said plate having a housing portion,

a rotatabie drive member adjacent said opening,

a container positioned on said base piate in cooperative relation wi=th said drive member,

said drive member having a cam portion thereon,

means to rotate said drive member thereby dispensing the contents of said container,

a ciamp member positioned adjacent said drive member to be actuated and reieased by said carn portion of said drive member, and

means to move said drive member and ciarnp member into and out of said housing portion of said base plate.

S. Apparatus for use in fiiiing the toner dispenser of an automatic xerographic reproducing machine comprising the combination of a base plate having an openng therein,

a rotatable drive member positioned adjacent said opening,

a container positioned on said base plate in cooperative relation With said drive member,

said container inciuding a hoilow drum member having at least one opening therein, and

a hoiiow core member concentricaiiy mounted in said drum member to form a ciosure of the opening therein and adapted to coact Wth said drive member,

means to rotate said drive member and thereby said core member t0 dispense the contents of said con tainer,

ciamp means positioned adjacent said drive member and actuated by the rotation thereof to secure said container te said base plate.

9. Loading apparatus comprising the combination of a base plate having ari opening therein,

said plate having a housing portion,

lock means secured to said plate,

an opener mechanism journaied in said look means for rotation relative thereto,

said opener mechanism adapted to engage a portion of said iock means,

said opener mechanisrn having a rotatable drive member positioned adjacent said opening,

a container positioned on said base plate in cooperative reiation With said drive member,

said container inciuding a holiow cyiindrical member having an opening therein and enciosed art one end thereof,

a disk-shaped end member secured to said cylindrical member at the other end and having an opening therein,

a hoiiow cyiindrical e1ernent rotatabiy supported in said cyiindricai member having a ciosed end portion adapted to forrn a closure of said disk-shaped end member and to coact With said drive member to rotate said cyiindricai eiement relative to said cyiindrical member thereby opening and closing said con tainer te empty the contents thereof,

said cylindrical eiernent having a ciosure portion adapted to cover the opening in said cylindrical member,

rneans to move said opener mechanism from the bonsing portion of said base plate into engagement With said look means and to return said opener mechanisrn to said housing portion, and

ciamp means adjacent said opener mechanism actuated by said drive member to secure said container to said base plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,902 12/1914 Gassler 214-303 1,305,087 5/1919 Gailoway 214-314 2,701,070 2/1955 Moiins 214-307 X HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LOADER FOR LOCKING A CONTAINER IN A FIXED POSITION, OPENING AND CLOSING THE CONTAINER, AND RELEASING THE CONTAINER FROM THE APPARATUS, INCLUDING A SUPPORT PLATE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN TO RECEIVE A CONTAINER HAVING A ROTATABLE CLOSURE PORTION, A ROTATABLE DRIVE MEMBER POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID OPENING TO ENGAGE THE ROTATABLE CLOSURE PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER FOR THE DISPENSING OF THE CONTENTS CONTAINED THEREIN, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID DRIVE MEMBER, AND A CLAMP MEMBER POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID DRIVE MEMBER TO BE ACTUATED AND RELEASED BY THE ROTATION THEREOF TO CLAMP A CONTAINER TO SAID SUPPORT PLATE DURING THE DISPENSING OF THE CONTENTS CONTAINED THEREIN. 